Looking for the best leather conditioner? Are you an avid sportsperson? Do you hunt, fish, or work outdoors? Do you work in an environment where water, oil, or manure gets all over your leather boots? Leather conditioners, cleaners, and restorers help us protect our feet and ensure that we stay dry no matter how much rain comes down from the sky.
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What Is The Best Leather Conditioner for Boots?
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We take a look at the leather greases, oils, and lotions to help you decipher the difference between each product. We think that you may find the best product on our list at the top of your next shopping list because these eight conditioners have multiple benefits. Whether you need something to smooth the cracks in the leather boots that you found in the back of your closet, or you have a new pair of boots that you want to protect, the following items have restorative and cleansing abilities that let you get the results you want.
Do you have other leather items like designer wallets, clutches, coats, or hats? Our leather conditioning picks may be great for using on numerous leather items. Several of our top picks include items that restore horse equipment, shoe soles, and sports gear.
1. Editor’s Choice: Tanner’s Blend Leather Cleaner & Conditioner
- Leather cleaner, conditioner,...
- Perfect for rejuvenation of...
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Do you have tons of accessories laying around the house like belts, gloves, and purses? By conditioning these items often, you may find that your favorite things last longer. Tanner’s Blend is our top pick on this list because it works well on worn-out leather boots.
- Made in the U.S.
- Restorer and cleaner
- Works on furniture and car upholstery
- Acceptable for TSA standards in the two-ounce tube
- Slightly higher in cost than other conditioners on our list
Tanner’s Blend Video Review
If you want a leather conditioner that cleans and replenishes fading, worn, and dry materials, then we feel that this product is the top one on our list. You may find that keeping a tube of this in the glove box makes it easy to soften your leather steering wheel or seats.
2. Best Handmade Leather Grease: Huberd’s Original Shoe Grease
- WATERPROOFS: Protects your...
- SOFTENS: Restores old leather...
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The Huberd name is popular in the mountain regions in the western U.S. where the formula helps outside crews protect work boots from Mother Nature. You may not spend hours in the great outdoors with a chainsaw, but you may use this boot grease to keep your feet dry when the rain keeps falling. We like that this product is suitable for work boots and dressier options.
- No animal fats
- Leather safe additives
- Protects the stitches and seams of leather boots
- Not for use on suede items
- Requires a heavy coat that works best when it sits for about an hour
If you ride horses, then you may like that this product helps condition and treat leather saddles. We find that after soaking into the seat, a quick buff across leather boots brings out the shine.
3. Best Scuff Protection Leather Conditioner: Obenauf’s Leather Unisex Heavy Duty Preservative
- Repels water better & longer
- Repels chemicals, manure acid,...
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Keeping your leather items free of marks is not an easy task for most. We find that using a protective agent like Obenauf’s Leather Preservative may help diminish the obvious nick or scratch in purses, coats, boots, and shoes.
- Mold and mildew resistant
- Waterproof
- Protects leather from heat and chemicals
- Bacteria resistant
- May take two coats for complete protection
- Soaks in better when adding to the warm fabric
You may find that this wax soaks into the leather better when using a hair dryer to warm up the boots before applying. You may also use a PEET dryer to prepare the boots for conditioning. Obenauf’s protects against manure, cracking, and dry rotting for individuals wearing leather boots to work on farms, logging crews, and fishing vessels.
4. Best Softening Boot Oil: Bickmore 100% Pure Neatsfoot Oil
- 100 PERCENT PURE NEATSFOOT...
- NATURALLY REPELS WATER:...
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You might giggle when you see the bottle for this leather oil because it closely resembles a motor oil container. The black bottle with white lettering and the Bickmore Logo with a horse is not easy to mix up with other products on the shelf. The large container size is one thing we find appealing about this oil because we can cover a lot of leather with it.
- Pure oil
- Acceptable for sports equipment
- Excellent for horse tack, saddles, and boots
- Darkens leather in all applications
- Not for suede or nubuck
The ingredient in this product protects the leather fabric from the water. You may notice that regular cleaning and oiling once a month works well for your footwear. For daily use of leather goods, a weekly cleaning is often best. We suggest letting the oil penetrate for about an hour when you add the second coat to make your leather soft and flexible.
5. Heals & Restores Dry, Cracked, Scratched Leather: Leather Conditioner by Chamberlain’s Leather Milk
- HEALS & RESTORES - Whether...
- DEEPLY CONDITIONS - Carefully...
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Do you have leather wallets, purses, and boots that look worn or the color is not the same anymore? We find that using a little of the Leather Conditioner by Chamberlain’s Leather Milk helps bring back the natural finish of leather with oil tanning applications. Is your leather plagued by scratches, scars, light cracks in the hide? Is it really, really thirsty? Take a little bit of the Healing Balm and it will milk your leather item back from its rut with form.
- Heals and restores
- Enriches the color and vibrancy of your leather
- Includes the sponge for the perfect application
- Made in the USA
- Not for use on suede or other extremely soft leathers
We like the Leather Conditioner by Chamberlain’s Leather Milk because it brings back the shine to worn leather goods. You may find that this product is in the middle of the cost range for conditioning cremes and oils.
6. Best Leather Conditioner For Outdoor: Sof Sole Mink Oil for Preserving and Waterproofing
- Mink oil for Waterproofing,...
- Ideal for leather boots,...
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Mink Oil is one of the leading ingredients in leather conditioners from brands like Sof Sole because it effectively repels water. You might find that using this product on your sleek leather purse, briefcase, or Coach bag keeps the material from drying out and retains a beautiful finish for years.
- Great for softening, conditioning and restoring boots and other leather items
- Convenient size and shape container
- A little bit of product goes a long distance
- Can get greasy
- Has a slight odor when wet
You may find that this oil works best for items you use outdoors or specifically for leather boots. If you add the mink oil too thickly to car seat covers and upholstery, then you may find that this product feels greasy. We suggest checking the surface of leather products before use to prevent accidental transfer.
7. Best Life Extending Conditioner For Leather: Red Wing Heritage All Natural Leather Conditioner
- Protect and lengthen the life...
- Style No. 97104
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Do you love Redwing Shoes and leather boots? Do you want to know how to protect your work gear from the environment? Redwing has a leather conditioner that adds life to your favorite pair of boots, saddles, rifle straps, purses, wallets, and hats. You may spot the canister pretty quick when you shop for it in the store because the Red Wing Shoes logo is easy to see on the top of the traditional red and white container.
- Specific formula for extending the life of Red Wing Shoes like Black Star, Boomer, and Mustang products
- Made in the U.S
- 100 percent natural product
- Can darken the leather when applying and then lighten the color more than the original finish
Using this conditioner is an acceptable replacement for boot oil. You might like that this product can provide the same sealing benefits as oil, and applies less messily.
8. Best All-Purpose Leather Cleaner and Conditioning Agent: Cadillac Boot and Shoe Leather Conditioner and Cleaner Lotion
- WIDE RANGING USE: Cadillac...
- GET RID OF WATER SPOTS AND...
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Do you have an alligator skin wallet, purse or boots? Does your family have several leather items? We think that the Cadillac Boot and Shoe Leather Conditioner is an excellent option to remove dirt, condition, and protect your favorite materials.
- Works for exotic skins, synthetic leather, and vinyl
- No wax
- Cleans water spots
- Prevents cracking
- Can darken some materials like suede
When you need a one-stop-shop item to care for your leather boots, then we think you might find that the Cadillac brand is the best choice for your home. This product is very versatile letting you use it on white and tan leathers.
Buyer’s Guide
While protecting and cleaning your leather boots may not seem like a big deal, the products you use can determine how long your footwear lasts. You might like that mink oil, and other leather conditioners use all-natural ingredients. We find that we use our leather oils and greases to clean and restore all of our leather goods from wallets to horse tack to steering wheel covers.
Protection
When your goal is to seal a new pair of leather boots or an item that needs softening and protecting, then it is a good idea to use an option like Obenauf’s Leather Unisex Heavy Duty Preservative or the Huberd’s Original Shoe Grease. Products with mink oil are excellent options for outdoor use. Creating a barrier between the boot and the water is how these products protect your footwear and add years of use.
Restoration
Do you have an old baseball mitt you would love to use to play with the grandchildren? Is your favorite Bomber jacket a treasure that has no luster? When your most precious leather goods are worn, dull, and cracking, there is still hope. Using a product like Tanner’s Blend Conditioner and Bickmore 100 Percent Pure Neatsfoot Oil can give your worn leather boots a new lease on life. You may find that your old favorites become new toys that you want to show off when you restore the leather.
Abrasion resistance
If you work in a job where you bump your feet against stuff or things fall often, then you may find that the Obenauf’s Leather Unisex Heavy Duty Preservative is the best option for your leather boots. When you spend hundreds of dollars on a pair of Red Wing Shoes or Frye Leather boots, you might find using Red Wing Leather Conditioner or FRYE Leather Conditioning Cream can help you keep them looking new for longer.
What happens if my leather boots end up greasy?
Applying too much conditioner might cause your products to become sticky or oily. For situations like this, we suggest that you use a clean rag to buff the leather out to see if that helps first. You can wipe off any excess and take another dry cloth across the material until the leather is shiny and clean.
What should I use to get rid of water spots on my leather coat and boots?
We suggest that you pick a product like the Cadillac Boot and Shoe Leather Lotion for items that need a thorough cleaning. This conditioner is also a cleaner made specifically for removing water stains and moisture marks. You can use this to polish and coat your leather goods too. One bottle does all the work you may need.
What product can I use for my lighter leather goods?
We suggest choosing the FRYE Leather Conditioning Cream when you need to protect lighter colors of leather. We like that this product is useful for bringing back the vibrant finish of tan and white fabrics. You may want to make sure that you get the neutral creme to ensure that you do not have any staining on light items.
How to clean leather?
To get the best results, you may want to gather a few old towels and begin by knocking off any dry dirt or debris from the surface of your boots or leather items. Use one towel to get rid of loose dirt. Take a second, clean towel and add a little oil, grease, or lotion. Run the towel across and around the leather lightly to remove any stubborn debris or grease. After your leather boots are clean, then you will want to apply a conditioner in another light layer.Bringing back the finish
When you want to restore your favorite boots or purses, then it is a good idea to test the oil treatment in a hidden spot to make sure it will provide the effect you want. You may find that some products darken leather goods. In most cases, this is a natural reaction of treating the leather, but if you do not want the change, then you may want to opt for a restoring lotion that specifically says it is for enhancing the color of your leather items like the FRYE Leather Conditioning Cream.
Protecting and waterproofing leather boots
When working outdoors, in factories, warehouses, farms, and other dirty venues, you may want to consider using the Red Wing Leather Conditioner to protect your boots. While this product says that it extends the life of manufacturer-specific goods, this product may be excellent for waterproofing your work boots, leather car covers, pants, purses, horse tack, saddles, boot soles, and more.
To get the best layer of protection, you should begin by cleaning your leather boots. The next step is to add a layer of Huberd’s Original Shoe Grease or Bickmore 100 Percent Pure Neatsfoot Oil. You may want to apply this coat liberally to let the oil or grease soak into the leather. You might find that adding the grease by hand is the best way to apply the product. Leave the conditioner sit for about an hour to let the waterproofing get into the fibers of the leather.
Last step
After an hour, wipe off the excess grease or oil if anything is left. You may choose to buff out the shine and leave your boots alone at this point. If you feel that the material is still too dry, then you can easily add another layer of oil. You may want to use a thin coat of product if you choose to add a second application. The second application does not have to sit on the product.
You can simply add it to the material and buff your boots to finish waterproofing. Should you get too much oil on the boots, you can use a clean rag to remove the excess, and then proceed. Once dry, the material should make water bead up on the surface. When beading stops, you may want to refresh the protective layer. For regular or daily use, you may need to do this once every month or two.
Our final thoughts
When you spend top dollar for leather boots and other high-quality goods, you may want to protect and seal your products. All of the items on our Top Eight Leather Conditioner List protect your leather goods, but not all are waterproof. Your Red Wing Shoes may last the longest when you use the brand-specific oils and leather cleaners. Frye and Red Wing Shoes both make a leather protection line for the products they sell.